As the dimension of knowledge knows no boundaries, the educationrelated progress stretches into infinity.Human resources development is of vital importance for the development of a country and the improvement of social-economy of the people. School education or the foundation of technological and technical knowledge is the core of human resources development, said Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing in his address at the ceremony to honour soldiers, children of the Tatmadaw families and war veteran families who passed the matriculation examination for 2016-2017 academic year with fl ying colours and all-round outstanding youths held at Zeyathiri Villa, here at 1 pm yesterday.

Also present were Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, wife of the Senior General,Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win and wife Daw Than

Than Nwe, the Union Minister for Home Affairs and wife, the Union Minister for Defence and wife, the Union Minister for Border Affairs and wife, the Chief of the General Staff(Army, Navy and Air) and wife, the Commander-in-Chief (Navy) and wife, the Commander-in-Chief (Air)and wife, senior military officers of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and their wives, Chairman of Myanmar War Veterans Organization Central Executive Committee Lt-Gen Hla Min (Retired), the commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command, deputy ministers, prize-winning soldiers and students, parents, teachers and specially invited guests.

As regards the knowledge, the Senior General said today is called the Knowledge-Age in which science and technologies develop very fast.A man’s mind is steering all his words, actions, styles and deeds as taught by the Buddha according to the religious treatise. Knowledge controls the mind to differentiate between good and bad. Actions,deeds and efforts vary between one person and another depending on the level of knowledge. Likewise,success and progress of a country and a community spring from individual environment. Only the high population of intellectuals and intelligentsia or the human resources can bring national development and social-economic growth.

He continued to say that a nation’s development is measured with technological ability. In this limitless Knowledge-Age, global countries are facing challenges from constant political, economic, social,health and educational changes.Developed countries are trying to further accelerate their progress while developing countries are striving to stand shoulder to shoulder with world countries. So, youths who passed the basic education subjects with flying colours should pursue the ever advancing branches of knowledge with enthusiasm and perseverance through the higher learning.

As a saying which goes “Well done is half begun” foundation is of vital importance in all sectors.As the ones who passed the basic education, which can be said the initial stage of life, with flying colours, they should pursue education continuously and steadfastly not just for their own progress but also for the development of the country. Apart from science and technology, arts is also important for national development. Various fields of arts should be studied as it is essential for promoting thinking power, and the ability to understand human nature. A good self-control is a special requisite in the learning process. Success can be achieved only if the mind is controlled with intellectual power and vision.

With regard to the education sector, the Senior General said that the country’s future was in the hands of the youth generation of today.Countries in the world were making efforts to promote their education sector for development. Prolonged colonial legacy and weak peace and stability hampered the country’s development. As a result, the education standard of people was weak as they had to prioritize their livelihood rather than education. In turn, the country’s development and high socio-economic status of the people relied on the education sector which produced human resources.

Regarding the promotion of education sector, the Senior General said with the aim of producing qualified human resources, the country had introduced a free education system from primary to high school students. The Tatmadaw on its part had paid special attention to the works to promote the education standard of servicemen and their family members in order to help support the education promotion programme. The Tatmadaw was providing necessary assistance to all servicemen and their families who had a burning desire to pursue their education at Tatmadaw education schools and Tatmadaw basic education schools. The Tatmadaw provided them with physical assistance such as cash assistance, school uniforms, stationery, accommodation and transportation.In addition, the Tatmadaw organized them by giving mental encouragement so as to inspire them to pay attention to education. In education sector, higher education could not be learned without basic education. The country would lag behind in development if the country had a fewer number of educated people.

According to the educational figures from 2007 to 2017, the number of grade-1 students reached 1,198,494. In 2012, the number of grade-6 was 681,879. So the number of students who promoted from the primary to middle level had dropped by a half. Only 56.89 percent of primary students could promote to the middle level. In 2017, there was an enrollment of 133,536 matriculation students.Only 11.14 percent of KG students could continue their education and the remaining around 90 percent was found to be difficult to complete the basic education level.It

was common every year. That showed that the country needed to make strenuous efforts and lay down the correct policies for the education promotion which was a basic foundation for the country’s development.

He continued to say that the Tatmadawmen were unable to take care of their offspring closely and leave legacy to them. The only legacy they could give to their children was “education”. For better future,youths should make continued efforts to complete their education by bearing that point in their minds.He called on the Tatmadawmen to nurture their offspring to become the valuable ones for the country and the Tatmadaw. He also urged all Tatmadawmen and their families to promote their reading habit for intellectual knowledge.

Afterwards, Adjutant-General Lt-Gen Hsan Oo explained the facts about the prize-awarding to the outstanding servicemen, offspring of Tatmadaw families and offspring of war veteran families who passed the matriculation exam in 2016-2017 academic year, all-round outstanding youths, students who won the prizes in the State-level article, essay, painting, cartoon and poem competitions and students who won university scholarships for 2017-2018 academic year.

At the prize presentation ceremony,Senior General Min Aung Hlaing presented prizes and certificates of honour for best pass rate in 2016-2017 academic matriculation examination to school administrative officers-in-charge from Tatmadaw Basic Education High Schools and headmasters from Tatmadaw Education Schools under the Directorate of Public Relations and Psychological Warfare. In this regard, the first prize went to No 2 Basic Education High School (Mingaladon) Aung San Thuriya Hla Thaung School, the second prize to BEHS (Shwenatttaung)and the third prize to No 18 BEHS(Mandalay), and the first prize to No 2 Tatmadaw Education School,the second prize to No 3 Tatmadaw Education School and the third prize to No 11 Tatmadaw Education School respectively.

After giving the prizes, sixdistinction winner Ma Shin Thant Shwe Yi, on behalf of the distinction winning and outstanding students and military personnel, spoke words of thanks.

Then, the Senior General and party posed for documentary photo together with the prize winning students and all-round outstanding youths.

After the ceremony, those present at the ceremony, prize winning military personnel and students,parents and teachers were served with foods. Meanwhile, the Myawady modern band played the youth honorary songs.

After the entertainment, the Senior General and party cordially greeted prize winning military personnel and students, and parents.

At today’s prize presentation ceremony, gold medals, prizes and certificates of honour were presented three best pass rate winning Tatmadaw Basic Education High Schools and three best pass rate winning Tatmadaw Education Schools, 23 one-distinction winner military personnel, 59 six-distinction winner offspring of Tatmadaw families,war veterans and military personnel-substitute civilian servants,85 five-distinction winners, 169 four-distinction winners, 168 threedistinction winners, 30 State-level all-round outstanding students, five winners in the State-level article/essay contests, 81 students of Tatmadaw families and war veterans in winning higher education level vocational university scholarship awards and six winners who could not attend the ceremony due to various reasons,totalling 620. Likewise, K90,000 per one distinction was awarded in distance to 877 one-distinction winners and 1,116 two-distinction winners, offspring of Tatmadaw families and war veteran families with the cash donations of wellwishers.

The prize presentation ceremony has been held since 2011-2012 academic year for honouring the outstanding military personnel and offspring of Tatmadaw families and those of war veteran families in the matriculation examination and offspring of military personnelsubstitute civilian servants. This year’s ceremony was the sixth time of its kind. So far, gold medals and cash awards were presented to 223 six-distinction winners,436 five-distinction winners, 757 four-distinction winners, and 843 three-distinction winners in total. As higher education level vocational university scholarship awards were given to the outstanding students beginning 2014-2015 academic year, monthly stipends are being provided to 72 students in 2014, 86 in 2015, 82 in 2016 and 81 in 2017,totalling 321. Among them, outstanding military personnel and all-round outstanding youths have been sent abroad as excursion trips since 2013. This year, the foreign trip for excursion will be arranged this year.